Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

The Right Line-up for Corporate Volunteering – Insights From Germany’s DAX30 Companies

Feb 21, 2019 11:40 AM ET

It has become a concern, of course, for most companies to face their social responsibility on a global as well as on a local level. Whereas this often happens by supporting social initiatives with generous donations, progressive corporations have long before started to engage more actively within their communities. Instead of only giving money to social causes, they want to lever their resources even more. More specifically: the time and talents of their employees. The emerging trend of corporate volunteering shows that for companies applying a holistic approach to corporate social responsibility, it is no longer a question of whether but rather of how to engage their employees.

Diversity & Inclusion

Major Consumer Brands Join Forces to Highlight Women’s Leadership Across Global Supply Chains for International Women’s Day

Feb 21, 2019 11:00 AM ET

The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc., Nordstrom, UGG®, and Williams-Sonoma, Inc. are proud to come together to raise the profile of women leaders across global supply chains through the “This Is A Leader” campaign. Launching today, this campaign celebrates exemplary female leadership from supplier factories to corporate offices, and invites employees, partners, consumers, and other stakeholders to join the conversation and share what leadership means to them.

Health & Healthcare

Whole Kids Foundation Grants $500,000 to Provide 150 New Salad Bars to Schools Across the U.S.

Feb 21, 2019 11:00 AM ET

Collectively, more than $14.3 million has been invested across all 50 states providing over 2.7 million children with daily access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Barron's Names UPS in Top Two Percent of U.S. Companies for Sustainability Efforts

Feb 21, 2019 10:30 AM ET

UPS is recognized for commitement to the systainability with a placement on Barron's annual list of America’s Top 100 Most Sustainable Companies.

Energy

Consumers Energy Announces Plans to Develop Solar Power Plant in Cadillac

Feb 21, 2019 10:15 AM ET

Consumers Energy announced today that it plans to develop its third solar power plant in Cadillac, building on its Triple Bottom Line commitment to people, the planet and Michigan’s prosperity. The Cadillac City Council this week approved an agreement to allow Consumers Energy to place solar panels on the Mitchell-Bentley property, a currently vacant site with a manufacturing history that dates to the late 1800s.

Environment

In the Face of Aging Infrastructure, Oil & Gas Transportation Companies Need to Focus on Pipeline Integrity Management

Feb 21, 2019 10:10 AM ET

Antea Group’s blog offers advice on how an oil and gas transportation company can maintain the integrity of its aging pipeline infrastructure.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Impact Investing and Building the Next Economy

Feb 21, 2019 9:05 AM ET

I examine my personal finances by asking myself three overarching questions: How am I making money? How am I investing it? And how am I spending it? As a full-time social entrepreneur, I routinely ask myself if I’m making money in a way that allows me to have a real impact.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

People Power Microcredit: Whole Planet Foundation’s Victor Quiroz

Feb 21, 2019 9:00 AM ET

We will take you behind the scenes to introduce you to the teams that are dedicated to empowering the world’s poorest people to become entrepreneurs. You will meet Field Officers, volunteers, and Whole Planet Foundation staff. Through their stories you will get a glimpse into a day on the job—whether it is in Austin, Texas or Huehuetenango, Guatemala.

Sustainable Development Goals

How Clarus Avoids Greenwashing, and Why You Should Too With Karen Righthand of SCS Global Services

Feb 21, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Consumers today are extremely conscious about what kinds of products they’re purchasing for their bodies, homes, and businesses, and with so many choices available it’s hard to know what products may be guilty of some of the “Seven Sins of Greenwashing” — otherwise known as stating a product is generally natural, green friendly, or organic, when it has undergone zero testing or certification.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Freeport-McMoRan United Way Campaign Tops $9.8 Million

Feb 21, 2019 8:10 AM ET

Freeport-McMoRan employees continued the tradition of giving back to the community by pledging $3.5 million in 2018, which raised a record-setting $9.8 million with the company match program for United Ways across the U.S.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Subaru Supports Pets in Need During 2019 Greater Milwaukee Auto Show With Adoption Event

Feb 21, 2019 8:00 AM ET

Subaru of America, Inc. today announced it will be hosting a pet adoption event during the 2019 Greater Milwaukee Auto Show through their partnership with local animal shelter, Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS). As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, HAWS is dedicated to improving the safety and well-being of greater Milwaukee’s homeless and at-risk animals. This first-of-its-kind event, to be held at the Subaru exhibit inside the Wisconsin Center, is aimed at finding forever homes for pets in the greater Milwaukee area.

Environment

Fox 2000 Goes Green Behind the Scenes of Upcoming Drama Film “The Woman in the Window”

Feb 21, 2019 7:00 AM ET

Fox 2000 recently led efforts to go green on the set of The Woman in the Window, an upcoming psychological thriller starring Amy Adams and Gary Oldman. By working with the sustainable production experts at Earth Angel, a New York-based consultancy that previously directed green initiatives on The Post, the crew was able to avoid the emission of 390 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, save more than $71,000, and divert 86% of on-set waste from going to a landfill, one of the highest waste diversion rates in the company’s history.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods Donates 42,000 Pounds of Protein to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

Feb 20, 2019 5:15 PM ET

Today, Smithfield Foods, Inc. and WinCo Foods joined forces to donate more than 42,000 pounds of protein to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Smithfield’s contribution was part of the company’s 2019 Helping Hungry Homes® donation tour.

Sustainable Development Goals

Science Based Targets Initiative Announces Major Updates Following IPCC Special Report on 1.5°C

Feb 20, 2019 3:00 PM ET

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) will introduce major new updates to enable companies to set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets consistent with the most ambitious aim of the Paris Agreement, to limit average global warming to 1.5°C by the end of the century compared to pre-industrial temperatures.

Environment

Yesterday’s Waste Leads to Tomorrow’s Energy

Feb 20, 2019 1:00 PM ET

Republic Services’ landfills aren’t just collecting trash, they can also produce renewable energy. Today, we’re capturing landfill gas and converting it to electricity and fuel. We also are utilizing closed landfills to generate solar electricity. Through these efforts, we’re converting previously unused resources into power for homes, businesses and vehicles – including our own collection trucks.

Innovation & Technology

Questions to Ask When Exploring Smart Sensors and Wearables

Feb 20, 2019 12:30 PM ET

Thinking about introducing smart sensors or wearables to generate ESG data? Here are a few questions you should ask before jumping in.

Environment

Strange Brew: Atomo Bean-Less Coffee

Feb 20, 2019 12:10 PM ET

Many people around the world wouldn’t dream of starting their day without their coffee ritual. And they tend to be pretty particular about it — what to buy, where to buy it, how to make it and when to drink it. But how much thought do they put into the coffee bean itself?

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Sands Cares, Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation Help Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth Kick Off Housing Expansion Campaign with Initial Funding Commitments

Feb 20, 2019 12:00 PM ET

Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth today launched a Housing Expansion Campaign to generate funds for a new facility that will provide much-needed beds for homeless youth in Southern Nevada, and announced a $100,000 seed investment from Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) through Sands Cares. As a committed partner in the fight to end youth homelessness, Sands reached out to the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation to join the effort, marking the Soul Foundation’s first charitable investment in Southern Nevada.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Deloitte Podcast Episode 5: CEO Activism: Reshaping Social Responsibility

Feb 20, 2019 11:55 AM ET

Innovation & Technology

Logistics and Distribution Innovation in China: Part I

Feb 20, 2019 11:35 AM ET

With 34% year-over-year growth in online sales, China is developing sustainable solutions to address logistics challenges of ecommerce and urbanization

Innovation & Technology

Illumina Corporation Foundation and Discovery Education Inspire Youth to Pursue Careers in STEM and Genomics through New Groundbreaking Program ‘DNA Decoded’

Feb 20, 2019 10:55 AM ET

Illumina Corporate Foundation and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital curriculum resources, digital content, and professional development for K-12 classrooms, today launched DNA Decoded, a program designed to equip middle and high school teachers with the power to unlock the study of genomics to advance the future for their students. DNA Decoded provides easy, ready-to-go, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) aligned lessons and activities for educators serving young learners in grades 6 – 12, enabling them to explore genomics in everyday life.

Energy

What the Rise of Distributed Energy Resources Means for Business

Feb 20, 2019 10:35 AM ET

Energy is evolving - in ways that are putting energy systems and even energy generation directly in the hands of energy consumers.

For organizations of all types and sizes, that’s a good thing. It’s leading to more customized and empowering energy systems - driven by knowledge, data, and on-site energy resources.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Call for Entries: Seeking the Most Innovative Fintechs Contributing to Social Impact Around the Globe

Feb 20, 2019 10:15 AM ET

What does it take to serve the nearly three billion people around the globe who lack safe and secure financial services? Visa, MetLife Foundation, global nonprofit Accion and World Bank Group member IFC aim to find the promising fintechs addressing this question through a new initiative, the Inclusive Fintech 50, which will honor 50 fintech startups committed to improving the financial health of disadvantaged people in advanced and emerging markets.

Energy

The Warehouse Group Goes Carbon Neutral

Feb 20, 2019 10:00 AM ET

CarboNZero certification has been granted The Warehouse Group, the company congratulated on its achievement by climate change minister James Shaw. Towards this end, the group has worked with global energy management company Schneider Electric to install EV charging stations at 24 of its store locations across the country.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: The Not-So-Easy Button

Feb 20, 2019 9:30 AM ET

An average of 25% of single-stream recycling material is too contaminated to actually be recycled, compared to about 7% a decade ago. That’s a troubling trend, and this article does a good job of explaining why.